Americans are finding ways to save in every place they can these days. It’s everywhere you turn from coupon cutting to do it yourself projects. Now people are even saving on education. A recent article in the Washington Post took notice of this trend. The article cites a study issued by Sallie Mae that revealed that [...]

The General Assembly finished its work yesterday, a day later than scheduled. Included for Virginia’s community colleges over and above what the Governor had recommended in his introduced budget are: An additional $9.92 million from the general fund in FY 2012  to support the goals of the Governor’s Higher Education Commission of access, affordability, quality [...]

Last week, I had the pleasure of traveling to Richmond to meet with my state representatives, joined by several students and faculty from Germanna Community College. I heard a variety of stories from students, ranging from a retired firefighter injured in the line of duty at the Pentagon on 9/11 to a mother attending college [...]

My purpose for attending the 2011 General Assembly earlier this month was to meet our legislative leaders and listen to their goals for the support of Virginia’s Community Colleges. I was humbled by the enormous welcome that my fellow students and I received from the legislators. We arrived as a team representing J. Sargeant Reynolds [...]

I had the opportunity to visit the General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia and I was surprised at the experience. I found myself being introduced to delegates that I felt would really care less about what we had to say as students. I was wrong! What I found was a group of men and women who [...]

SB 819 (Edwards) was heard on Feb. 14 in the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Dr. Jennifer Gentry, vice chancellor for institutional advancement for the Virginia Community College System and executive director of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education made a compelling case to the subcommittee members about the value to the [...]

My name is Allison Atkins, and I am a 25-year old student at John Tyler Community College.  I always had dreams of becoming successful and helping others, but I was told that my education needed to be placed on hold when I became a single-parent. Since I was now a new mother and laid off, [...]

Nat Marshall, chairman of the State Board for Community Colleges, testified Tuesday at the Senate Finance Education Subcommittee in support of Governor McDonnell’s Top Jobs legislation. Here are his remarks:  Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. I am delighted to spend a few minutes to talk about the Top Jobs legislation; the [...]

Yesterday, SB 819 (Community College Scholarship Match) was reported unanimously out of the Senate Education and Health Committee and passed the Senate today on first reading. Senator Stosch’s SB 1363 to enhance Two-Year Transfer Grants was also heard in Senate Education and Health and reported unanimously yesterday. Senators on the committee were very complimentary of [...]

Governor Bob McDonnell held a press conference yesterday to talk about his legislative plan to increase the number of Virginia college graduates. My colleague Ellen Davenport wrote about that yesterday. The Governor’s plan is the right public policy and Virginia’s Community Colleges support it. In their coverage of the press conference, however, the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote [...]